New vs. Used
What is the biggest difference between new and used textbooks? It’s simple. The cost.
Used textbooks cost approximately 25% less than new books and each semester the University Store strives to carry as many used textbooks as possible. The University Store inspects all our used books to make sure they are in good condition, and while they may have reasonable amounts of writing or highlighting, you will not find books with water damage, broken spines or missing pages on our shelves. Used books sell out fast, so if used is your preference plan to purchase your books early in the semester for the best selection. Students who wait to purchase their textbooks until after the first week of classes may be limited to only new textbooks options, ultimately costing you more money.
Unfortunately, used books aren’t always an option for every class, for instance when faculty members request a new edition of a textbook or when textbooks are only available as a part of a bundle that includes a digital component. The University Store is on your side and works to ensure the lowest possible prices on textbooks for our students, which is why we operate on an approximately 5% lower gross profit margin for new textbooks than the national average.
The University Store understands that students want to pay the best possible price for their textbooks, which often means scouting out the best deals across a variety of local and online retailers. We are sure you have come across countless online retailers who tout amazing textbooks prices that seem too good to be true. Well be careful, because they just might be. Purchasing your textbooks from a third party online could result in you not having the correct edition or all the ancillary materials needed for the class, including CD-ROMs, workbooks or online access codes. Without those, sometimes the textbook could be deemed useless. We work directly with OSU faculty members to ensure we have in stock exactly what you need to succeed in their classes. Shopping at the University Store at the Student Union or online at www.shopokstate.com means getting the right textbooks and course materials at the best prices.